Strawberry plant named &#39;palomar&#39;

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinctive short-day type cultivar designated as ‘Palomar’. ‘Palomar’ is a short-day (June-bearing) cultivar similar to ‘Camino Real’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,079), but with higher quality fruit, lower cull rate and lighter colored fruit; it is similar to ‘Ventana’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,469), but with a more compact plant, superior fruit quality, and firmer, better flavored fruit.

GENUS AND SPECIES

The strawberry cultivar of this invention is botanically identified as Fragaria ×ananassa Duch.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

The variety denomination is ‘Palomar’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

‘Palomar’ originated from a cross performed in 2000 between the cultivars ‘Camino Real’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,079) and ‘Ventana’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,469). Because ‘Palomar’ was isolated from pooled seed from a reciprocal cross, it is not known which parent is the maternal parent and which is the paternal parent. ‘Palomar’ was first fruited near Winters, Calif. in 2001, where it was selected, originally designated Cal 0.259-2, and propagated asexually by runners. Following selection and during testing, the plant was designated ‘C221’. Asexual propagules from this original source have been tested in Watsonville, Calif., Irvine, Calif., and to a limited extent in grower fields starting in 2002. The properties of this variety were found to be transmissible by such asexual reproduction. The cultivar is stable and reproduces true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinctive short-day type cultivar designated as ‘Palomar’. ‘Palomar’ is a short-day (June bearing) cultivar similar to ‘Camino Real’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,079) but with higher quality fruit, lower cull rate and lighter colored fruit; it is similar to ‘Ventana’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,469) but with a more compact plant, superior fruit quality, and firmer, better flavored fruit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures depict various characteristics of the ‘Palomar’ cultivar.

FIG. 1 shows the general flowering and fruiting characteristics of plants in a field planting.

FIG. 2 shows a typical leaf at mid-season.

FIG. 3 shows representative mid-season fruit.

FIG. 4 shows a cross-section of representative mid-season fruit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinctive short-day type cultivar designated as ‘Palomar’. ‘Palomar’ is typical of short-day strawberry cultivars and produces fruit over an extended period when treated appropriately in arid, subtropical climates. The production pattern for ‘Palomar’ is similar to that for ‘Camarosa’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8708) and ‘Camino Real’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,079), although it is somewhat earlier to initiate fruiting with most cultural treatments. ‘Palomar’ initiates fruiting somewhat earlier than ‘Ventana’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,469) when established in very early fall and somewhat later than ‘Ventana’ when established in mid to late fall. ‘Palomar’ will be of special interest for winter plantings, where ‘Camarosa’, ‘Ventana’ and ‘Camino Real’ have been successful, and in summer plantings where ‘Pajaro’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4538) and ‘Chandler’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5262) have been successful.

Plants and foliage: Fruiting plants of ‘Palomar’ are similar in morphology to ‘Ventana’ although slightly more erect and much smaller throughout most of the production season; ‘Palomar’ plants are slightly larger and less open than those of ‘Camino Real’ in most production environments. Comparative statistics for foliar characters near mid-season are given for ‘Palomar’ and three comparison cultivars in Table 1. Individual leaflets for ‘Palomar’ are smaller and less rounded than for ‘Camarosa’ or ‘Camino Real’, similar in shape to but smaller than for ‘Ventana’. Leaves (including petioles) for ‘Palomar’ are shorter than those for the comparison cultivars, mostly due to shorter petiole length. Petioles for ‘Palomar’ are generally thicker than those of the comparison cultivars relative to their length and tend to have moderate or heavy pubescence. The adaxial (upper) and abaxial (lower) surfaces of leaves for ‘Palomar’ are similar in color to ‘Camarosa’ and lighter than for ‘Camino Real’ leaves at mid season; they tend to remain darker and less yellow than those for ‘Ventana’ late in the harvest season. Leaves of ‘Palomar’ have consistently more concavity than ‘Camarosa’, less concavity than ‘Camino Real’ and are similar to those for ‘Ventana’. Serrations at mid season are more pointed than for ‘Camarosa’, similar in shape and number to ‘Ventana’ and ‘Camino Real’. TABLE 1 Foliar and plant characteristics for ‘Palomar’, ‘Camarosa’, ‘Camino Real’, and ‘Ventana’. Cultivar Foliar Character ‘Camarosa’ ‘Camino Real’ ‘Ventana’ ‘Palomar’ Plant height (mm) mean 254 249 271 196 range 203-279 229-279 254-292 152-229 Plant spread (mm) mean 427 418 468 391 range 394-493 330-495 343-521 305-432 Mid-tier leaflet Length (mm) mean   83.5   79.5   87.2   75.5 range  70-100  70-95  70-110  70-100 Width (mm) mean   85.5  85   76.1   71.5 range  70-100  70-100 60-85 65-80 Mid-tier leaf Length (mm) mean 269 265 281 211 range 217-311 225-313 205-341 150-298 Width (mm) mean 132 133 156 122 range 115-150 110-145 140-170  90-175 Leaf components Petiole length (mm) mean 177 180 187 130 range 140-200 150-210 130-230  75-190 Petiole diameter (mm) mean    3.8    3.8    3.6    3.6 range 3-5 3-5 3-4 3-4 Petiolule length (mm) mean    9.3    6.4    6.9    6.3 range  7-11 5-8 5-9 5-8 # leaflets/leaf  3 3, rarely 4 or 5  3 3, rarely 4 Leaf convexity flat-convex, very concave flat to very concave to most slightly concave very concave concave Serrations number/leaf   19.1   20.8   20.3   18.9 range 18-20 16-26 17-26 12-22 shape rounded, some semi-pointed semi-pointed semi-pointed semi-pointed Leaf pubescence light-moderate light-moderate moderate-light moderate Petiole pubescence density heavy moderate- heavy moderate- heavy heavy direction perpendicular perpendicular perpendicular perpendicular to acropetal Petiole color (Munsell) 5 GY 8/8 5 GY 8/8 7.5 GY 8/7 5 GY 8/8 Stipule length (mm) mean   17.6   19.1   19.4   18.7 range 10-24 15-25 15-25 12-23 Stipule color core 7.5 GY 8/7 2.5 GY 5/5 2.5 GY 6/8 5 GY 8/8 margins 2.5 GY 8/9 2.5 GY 4/3 2.5 GY 6/8 2.5 GY 6/8 Stolon base diameter (mm)  3  3    2.4    2.6 Stolons per nursery mother   42.6   33.7   23.7   36.7 plant Venation pattern pinnate pinnate pinnate pinnate color 5 GY 4/3 7.5 GY 4/3 2.5 GY 4/3 5 GY 4/3

Disease and pest reaction: ‘Palomar’ is moderately resistant to powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca macularis), Anthracnose crown rot (Colletotrichum acutatum), and Verticillium wilt (Verticillium dahlias); it is moderately susceptible to Phytophthora crown rot (Phytophthora cactorum) and common leaf spot (Ramularia tulasnei) (Table 2). When treated properly, it has tolerance to two-spotted spider mites (Tetranychus urticae) equal to that for the comparison cultivars. ‘Palomar’ is tolerant to strawberry viruses encountered in California. TABLE 2 Disease resistance scores for ‘Palomar’ and three comparison cultivars; Phytophthora and Verticillium scores were obtained in evaluations conducted in 2004-2006, Colletotrichum was evaluated in 2005-2006. Phytophthora Verticillium Colletotrichum Resistance Score Resistance Score Resistance Score Genotype (5 = best) (5 = best) (5 = best ‘Camarosa’ 3.6 2.5 2.6 ‘Camino Real 4.4 4.2 3.1 ‘Ventana’ 2.5 3.0 3.0 ‘Palomar’ 2.4 3.3 3.2

Flowering, fruiting, fruit, and production characteristics: ‘Palomar’ is similar to other California short-day strawberry cultivars (e.g., ‘Ventana’, ‘Camarosa’, and ‘Camino Real’) in that it will flower over an extended period and into spring or summer, given appropriate local temperature and horticultural conditions. With very early plantation establishment (before October 1 in California) ‘Palomar’ produces fruit earlier than the comparison cultivars but with greater within-season variation than ‘Ventana’. With later plantation establishment ‘Palomar’ initiates fruit later than ‘Ventana’ and is similar in production timing to ‘Camino Real’ and ‘Camarosa’. Comparative statistics for flower and fruit characters near mid-season are given for the four cultivars in Table 3. The primary flowers for ‘Palomar’ are similar in size to the comparison cultivars with a calyx that is distinctly larger than the corolla on primary fruit; the sepals are similar in length and shape to ‘Camarosa’ and ‘Ventana’, but less wide than for ‘Camino Real’. The calyx for ‘Palomar’ varies in position but is usually neither indented nor extended on the neck of the fruit; each primary flower has 5-7 petals. The petals are white on the upper and lower surfaces. The fruit shape for ‘Palomar’ can vary but is typically a short and symmetrical conic. It is easily distinguished by fruit shape from ‘Camarosa’ (shortened and flattened conic) or ‘Ventana’ (long conic); ‘Palomar’ usually has a greater proportion of symmetrical fruit than the comparison cultivars. External and internal fruit color for ‘Palomar’ is lighter than for ‘Camarosa’ and much lighter than for ‘Camino Real’, similar in color to ‘Ventana’ (Table 4). Achenes vary from yellow to dark red, and are even with the fruit surface or slightly indented (Table 6). TABLE 3 Flower and fruit characters for ‘Palomar’ and three comparison cultivars. Cultivar Character ‘Camarosa’ ‘Camino Real’ ‘Ventana’ ‘Palomar’ Petal number mean  5.5  6.4  6.3  5.8 range 5-7 5-7 5-7 5-7 Petal shape apex truncate to truncate to truncate to truncate to slightly obtuse slightly obtuse slightly obtuse slightly obtuse base attenuate attenuate attenuate attenuate margin entire entire entire entire Petal length (mm) mean 15.2 17.7 18.5 16.4 range 7-19 15-20 15-20 15-19 Petal width (mm) mean 14.1 17.3 18.8 17.4 range  7-16 15-20 16-20 15-20 Flower position (relative to most even exposed even to even to foliage) some exposed exposed exposed Calyx diam.(mm) mean 57.5 58.5 58   59   range 40-70 50-70 48-70 50-70 Corolla diam.(mm) mean 43.1 45.6 55.1 44.3 range 30-52 39-55 43-67 38-53 Sepal length (mm) mean 24   24.5 23   25.1 range 13-30 20-35 20-25 20-30 Sepal width (mm) mean 12.8 15.3 11.1 12.8 range  5-20  8-20  8-15 10-17 Sepal color (Munsell) 2.5 GY 5/5 5 GY 5/6 5 GY 6/8 5 GY 5/6 Pedicel length (mm) mean 130   85   129   128   range 110-150  70-110 100-150 110-150 Pedicel diameter (mm) mean  3.7   3  3.7  3.7 range   3-4.5 2-4 3-5   3-4.5 Pedicel color 5 GY 6/8 2.5 GY 6/8 5 GY 5/6 5 GY 8/8 Fruit shape Fruit length (mm) mean 85   68   72.2 71.7 range  50-130  50-100  60-100 52-91 Fruit width (mm) mean 70   62   63.3 64.2 range  50-100 40-90 50-80 52-81 Length/width ratio  1.2  1.1  1.2  1.1 range 0.7-2.1 0.8-1.4 0.9-1.4 0.9-1.3 subjective Obovate-flat Short conic Medium conic Short conic Primary/secondary fruit comparison size (subjective) 40-60% 70-80% 50-60% 50-60% shape similar shape, similar shape similar shape similar shape more conic Extent/size of hollow core small-absent absent small small-absent Calyx position indented-neck even-indented even-reflexed even-indented size relative to fruit equal or less equal or equal or less equal or than fruit greater than than fruit greater than diameter fruit diameter diameter fruit diameter Seed position indented- even-indented even-extruded even-indented extruded Adherence of Calyx to Fruit weak strong intermediate weak

Flower measurements obtained on March 21, 2005, fruit measurements on May 9, 2005. TABLE 4 Foliar and fruit color characteristics for ‘Palomar’ and three comparison cultivars. Color Cultivar Character ‘Camarosa’ ‘Camino Real’ ‘Ventana’ ‘Palomar’ Leaf color (CIELAB) Adaxial L* mean 34.5 29.7 33.8 32.2 range 31.6-37.9 27.3-31.5 31.4-35.9 30.6-34.9 a* mean −11   −8   −11.2   −9.5 range  −9.2-−12.4 −6.3-−9.9  −9.1-−13.7  −8.5-−11.2 b* mean 16.7 10.2 15.5 12.4 range 12.8-18.5  8.2-12.5 12.4-19.7 10.9-15.0 Munsell 5 GY 4/3 5 GY 4/3 5 GY 5/6 5 GY 4/3 Abaxial L* mean 50.8 48   40   49.8 range 48.6-52.7 47.6-49.0 46.8-51.5 47.2-52.3 a* mean −9.4 −9.4 −9   −9.3 range  −7.9-−10.6  −8.2-−10.1 −8.0-−9.8 −8.6-−9.8 b* mean 19.4 16.4 17.7 15.7 range 17.0-22.3 15.0-18.1 15.4-21.3 13.8-16.9 Munsell 5 GY 6/8 5 GY 6/8 7.5 GY 7/9 5 GY 7/10 Fruit color (CIELAB) External L* mean 39.2 33.7 38.4 39.3 range 37.1-42.4 29.0-39.4 34.4-42.9 36.5-44.8 a* mean 40.6 36.4 40.5 43.1 range 35.8-43.5 31.4-41.2 33.5-46.5 38.1-47.9 b* mean 25.6 20.2 25.7 27.4 range 22.1-28.9 13.6-27.5 19.7-29.5 21.7-34.1 Munsell 7.5 R 3/6 5 R 3/7 5 R 3/7 7.5 R 4/11 Internal L* mean 60.4 56.6 61.4 59.1 range 53.9-67.8 49.2-61.6 54.7-68.8 46.5-64.1 a* mean 35.4 36.3 33.1 29.3 range 27.4-43.4 29.7-41.2 23.7-39.5 22.9-36.4 b* mean 36.3 35.8 34.1 30.9 range 27.4-45.7 30.6-40.9 27.6-40-2 24.3-37.4 Munsell 7.5 R 4/11 7.5 R 5/13 7.5 R 6/12 7.5 R 7/9 Achene color Munsell 7.5 R 3/6 5 R 3/7 5 R 4/12 5 R 3/7 *CIELAB is the abbreviation of the international color system known as “Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage” 1978. For recommendations concerning uniform color spaces, color difference equations, and psychometric color terms see Supplement No. 2 of CIE Publication No. 15, Paris.

‘Palomar’ has been tested under a variety of cultural regimes, and optimal performance is obtained when nursery treatments and nutritional programs similar to those for ‘Camarosa’, ‘Ventana’, and ‘Camino Real’ are used. In general, ‘Palomar’ is less vigorous than ‘Camarosa’ or ‘Ventana’ with very early season planting and is less sensitive to excess chilling than ‘Ventana’. ‘Palomar’ retains excellent fruit quality in summer planting systems.

When treated with appropriate planting regimes, ‘Palomar’ has larger fruit and produces individual-plant yields to similar to that of ‘Camarosa’; it produces less fruit per plant but develops larger and higher quality fruit than ‘Ventana’ (Table 5). ‘Palomar’ has a similar production pattern to ‘Camino Real’ with most cultural treatments, although the production is less peaked and it is substantially more adapted to early-season winter planting. Commercial appearance ratings have been better than those for all of the comparison cultivars, especially ‘Camarosa’; these superior appearance scores translate directly into a larger fraction of marketable fruit than is produced by the comparison cultivars. Fruit for ‘Palomar’ is substantially firmer than fruit from ‘Ventana’, similar in firmness to the other comparison cultivars. Subjectively, ‘Palomar’ has outstanding flavor. The fruit will be exceptional for both fresh market and processing, and will be useful for home garden purposes. TABLE 5 Performance of ‘Palomar’ and three comparison cultivars evaluated at the Watsonville Research Facility in 2004-6. All plants for these trials were harvested from a commercial nursery near Macdoel, CA on October 15-16, and transplanted after 6-15 days supplemental storage. Fruit harvest was initiated in early April and continued through the last week of August. (52″ 2-row beds, 17,300 plants/acre). Appearance Fruit Yield Score Size Item (g/plant) (5 = best) (g/fruit) Firmness* ‘Camarosa’ 2,086 3.1 26.1 9.9 ‘Camino Real’ 2,086 3.5 31.3 9.8 ‘Ventana’ 2,331 3.4 30.6 8.8 ‘Palomar’ 2,031 3.7 30.2 10.2 *Fruit firmness ratings are the amount of force in tenths of pounds required to drive a 3 mm flat probe 1 cm into a ripe fruit. This is measured with a Hunter Force Guage.

TABLE 6 Achenes number per fruit and size for ‘Palomar’ and three comparison cultivars. Achene Cultivar Sample Weight (g) Seed Count Seed/g Size (mm) ‘Camarosa’ 1 45 427 9.49 2 47 577 12.28 3 47 502 10.68 Average 46.33 502.00 10.82 1.3 × 1.7 ‘Ventana’ 1 44 441 10.02 2 41 471 11.49 3 54 491 9.09 Average 46.33 467.67 10.20 1.2 × 1.6 ‘Camino’ 1 42 371 8.83 2 45 470 10.44 3 38 447 11.76 Average 41.67 429.33 10.35 1.3 × 1.75 ‘Palomar’ 1 38 463 12.18 2 36 458 12.72 3 29 450 15.52 Average 34.33 457.00 13.47 1.2 × 1.4 *The seed count is the number of seed per fruit. The seed/g is the number of seeds per gram of fresh fruit weight because the fruit size differs. The averages may vary depending on culture conditions and regimen. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of strawberry plant having the characteristics substantially as described and illustrated herein. 